Failure Mode Verification Testing: Applying Highly Accelerated Life Testing Methods to Mechanical Systems

Failure Mode Verification Testing (FMVT) is a highly accelerated test method that uncovers design weaknesses in mechanical products. The goal of the technique is to uncover design inherent failure modes in a very short amount of time by applying a broad range of stress patterns at elevated levels. The FMVT technique is an application of the Highly Accelerated Life Test (HALT) methodology. HALT has been used in aerospace and electronics industry for many years.³

FMVT provides for a measure of the design's maturity but does not determine the life expectancy or reliability of a product.

FMVT has been used on mechanical systems by adapting the traditional HALT frequency ranges, and other stress sources to mechanical systems. FMVT has been successfully applied to several automotive mechanical products.